Welcome to 1995

Five! Four! Three! Two! One!

Happy New Year!

The Taira family clinked their glasses. Yumi kissed Toshiki on the cheek. 1994 was gone. Time to welcome 1995.

“Happy New Year!” Yumi said. Her parents grinned on the couch. Momma took a sip of her drink. Yumi turned to her boyfriend.

“Want to watch the sunrise with us?” she asked.

“Sure!” Toshiki said. The girl cuddled up next to him. He tried to look cool. Her parents sat smiling at them. What with this family? They were okay with this? He still didn’t get it.

New Year’s Eve night had been quiet. Momma poured everyone’s drinks. They just watched TV. Momma stood up, yawned, and stretched her arms above her head.

“I’m going to bed,” she said.

“Already?” Papa asked. “But the sunrise will be soon.”

“I’ll be up by then,” she said. “It’ll be a quick nap.” The woman finished her glass.

“Night,” she said. Everyone waved as she walked down the hall. Yumi finished her drink. The TV talked on in the background.

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The family sat on the lawn. Yumi held Toshiki’s hand. Still no answer. Maybe she should ask again? It all seemed sudden. They had only been on two dates. He had been staying at the house since late November. She still didn’t know much about him. Still, she had to marry him. Yumi didn’t have the answers. It just felt right.

“Where’s Momma?” Yumi asked her father.

“In bed,” Papa said. His daughter frowned.

“Really?” she asked. Papa shrugged.

“You know how she is,” he said. Yumi rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, yeah,” she said. Toshiki looked between father and daughter.

“Should I go get her?” he asked. Papa shook his head.

“Nah,” he said. The veteran turned his head confused.

“No?” he asked.

“She’ll get up soon,” Papa said. “She’s never missed this. I doubt she will this year.” He chuckled to himself.

“That woman, I swear,” he said. “She has the sense for these things.”

“What things?” they heard. Yumi, Toshiki, and Papa looked up to see Momma standing in the doorway of the house. Papa perked up.

“Ah, right on time. Hello, dear,” he said. His wife smiled and lay down next to him. Yumi pretended to be grossed out as her parents kissed. But secretly, she wished that she and Toshiki could be like that someday.

They all watched the first sunrise of 1995. Goodbye, 1994! Hello, 1995! May all of their hopes and dreams come true.